Blue tooth enabled helmets

[longlivechair19]

I did a forum search for this topic and couldnt find any info.

I am in the market for a helmet, never owned one. I would like it to be blue-tooth enabled to stream music wirelessly and want a helmet with good audio speakers. Anybody have one of these and recommend a certain brand? Any water proof issues?

Any help is appreciated. thanks

[longlivechair19]

no one has blue tooth in their helmets?

[CalvaryMike]

I don't know of any helmets that have bluetooth, but I've seen a kit by Skullcandy. It was $200 for the kit. Not worth it to me for that price.

[longlivechair19]

yeah i have read about these kits...but why is it so hard to have the helmet come with blue tooth already installed??

oh well gotta wait a few more years i guess when the market demands it (may it wont)....

[ConanOBrien]

I've gone through 5 different sets of bluetooth speakers/headsets that drop into helmets, including those garbage Skullcandy ones that Smith sells for their helmet. The buttons were easy to press but the functionality and audio quality were absolute garbage. It took me about 2-years to find a set that I liked but I finally found one:

http://www.uclear-digital.com/HBC220Snow.php

I think it was originally designed for motorcycle riders but they made this version with extended temperature range for snow (the module is waterproof). There's basically no wind noise because there's 2 mics (one in each speaker) and it will only transmit sound that BOTH speakers pick up. It's pretty nifty.

Anyway, it's not a full helmet, it's a kit that you can drop into your earpads, but I love this thing. My absolute favorite feature is the intercom function. It's nice to be able to coach my GF on the hill in a calm level voice through the helmet without having to scream at her. (Of course whoever you're trying to use the intercom with will have to have the same product).

I usually have two devices connected, iPod (through bluetooth media audio) and Phone (for phone only audio). I can listen to music and if a call comes in it will pause the iPod.

My only gripe with it is the shape of the control module and the mounting hardware. I used the doublesided tape that they used and it popped off during one of the stormy days we had earlier this season. I ended up sewing the mounting tab directly to my earpiece and it made it keeps it lower profile and all.

In the end, Function > Form, it works better than the other garbage I've tried so my GF and I are keeping it

If you're interested in checking it out, we're on the hill pretty often (about every other weekend), you're welcome to meet up if you don't mind chatting with some one-plankers plowing through all your precious moguls

[Malolo]

Conan

I read a few reviews and they said the music quality was crap, but everything else was top notch.
Care to give us your feed back?

[ConanOBrien]

Conan

I read a few reviews and they said the music quality was crap, but everything else was top notch.
Care to give us your feed back?

The speakers are very thin. Don't expect any mind blowing bass. Remember, this is a stereo headset primarily used for communication, not for rocking out. It's no worse than the speakers that came with the Smith/Skullcandy Bluetooth kit. The pros outweigh the cons, and there isn't a better option unless you go with a wired set (and even then the mics will still pick up wind noise).